According to wholevehicles, Malta is a small country in southern Europe in the Mediterranean Sea. The country is part of the European Union and is one of the euro countries. The country has been inhabited since prehistoric times, the first people probably settled here as early as 5000 BC. The many temple complexes on the island are a reminder of this. It was the Phoenians and the Greeks who built the first permanent settlements here. In about 400 BC the island is conquered by the city of Carthage and later by the Romans who will rule here for more than 600 years. Later the island comes under the rule of the Byzantines, Arabs, Normans and Sicily. It was also part of the kingdom of Aragon and conquered by Napoleon’s troops to eventually become a British colony. In short, Malta has a turbulent past that has left its mark on the islands. There are still many traces of the British colonial past here, so people drive on the left and almost everyone speaks English. Malta has been an independent country since September 21, 1964. The country is in 10th place of the most densely populated countries in the world with almost 1,300 inhabitants per square kilometer. This is almost three times as much as the Netherlands. Most tourists come to the islands to enjoy the sun, the sea and the beautiful historical places that can be found here. The country is in 10th place of the most densely populated countries in the world with almost 1,300 inhabitants per square kilometer. This is almost three times as much as the Netherlands. Most tourists come to the islands to enjoy the sun, the sea and the beautiful historical places that can be found here. The country is in 10th place of the most densely populated countries in the world with almost 1,300 inhabitants per square kilometer. This is almost three times as much as the Netherlands. Most tourists come to the islands to enjoy the sun, the sea and the beautiful historical places that can be found here.
Sights
The capital Valletta is definitely not to be missed, you can easily spend a day here walking through the old streets and alleys of the city. The city is built in the so-called chessboard pattern, which makes getting lost almost impossible. In the city are some beautiful buildings such as the St. John’s Co-Cathedral and the Grand Master’s Palace. The city also houses the fine arts museum. For those who are not in the mood to make the long walk around the old town, a carriage can be used for this. Prehistoric temples can be found in several places in Malta, some of which are partly built underground. The former capital of the island of Mdina with its beautiful cathedral. The beautiful fishing village of Marsaxlokk with its many seafood restaurants.
The Blue Lagoon on the island of Comino is not to be missed, you can reach the island by taking one of the ferries from Malta or Gozo. The disadvantage is that it can be very busy here in the summer months and that it is sometimes difficult to get a place by the water.
The sandy beaches on Malta are scarce but well worth the effort, especially the beautifully situated Ghajn Tuffieha Bay.
In the northwestern part of the island is Popeye Village which was built as a movie set for the Popeye movie in 1980.
UNESCO
Malta has three inscriptions on the UNESCO World Heritage List, all three of which were added in 1980. The three entries are. The underground temple complex Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum near the village of Paola. The city of Valetta with its famous buildings such as the Fort Saint Elmo, the Grand Master’s Palace, the Inn of Castile, the Saint John’s Cathedral and the Grand Harbour. Finally, the Megalithic Temples of Malta, this is a collection of prehistoric temples that can be found in several places in Malta. The most important temple complexes of the country are on the UNESCO list. These are the temples of Ġgantija, Ta’ Ħaġrat, Ta’ Skorba, Ħaġar Qim, Mnajdra and Tarxien.
Climate
Malta has a warm Mediterranean climate influenced by the Mediterranean Sea. This influence ensures that the temperatures here are somewhat tempered in the summer months. In the summer months the average daytime temperature is around 30 degrees Celsius. On the hottest days of the year, the mercury can rise to 40 degrees Celsius here. This can also happen when the Sirocco wind blows dry warm air from the Sahara to the island. The temperature can rise uncomfortably as a result, this natural phenomenon can sometimes plague it for days in a row. There is not much precipitation on Malta, so the land is anything but green, most precipitation falls in the winter period. Real long rainy periods here rarely or never occur. In the summer months the water temperature here is very pleasant with an average temperature of 25 degrees Celsius. In the winter, this temperature is 10 degrees Celsius lower. In the summer months the sun shines here 12 hours a day.
Geography
The country of Malta is an archipelago in the Mediterranean that consists of three main islands and several smaller islands. The island of Malta is the largest and most important island in the country. The country also consists of the inhabited islands of Gozo and Comino, although only five people live on the latter. The former island of Manoel Island which is connected by a bridge to the main island and the uninhabited islands of Cominotto, Filfla, Fungus Rock and the Saint Paul’s Islands. There are no rivers or lakes in Malta. As a result, it has little to no natural sources for drinking water. Desalinated seawater is therefore usually used for this. The island as a whole is very rocky, the highest point of the island of Malta is 305 meters high and you can find it in the eastern part of the island of Malta. In terms of landscape, the islands of Gozo and Comino are very similar to the main island of Malta, only less buildings are found. Comino is known for its beautiful blue bay and beautiful underwater caves. The largest and most famous cities and towns in the country are Valletta, Sliema, Saint Julians, Qormi, Birkirkara, Msida, Naxxar, Mdina, Rabat and Marsascala on the island of Malta and the places Victoria, Ghasri, Mgarr, Marsalforn and Xlendi on Gozo.
Travel advice
There are no special travel advices for Malta. The status at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been “no special security risks” for years and a visit to the country does not require any special vaccinations. On average, Malta is safer than the Netherlands, the crime figures are in any case a lot lower. However, this does not mean that you should not watch your valuables and dark back alleys are also best avoided here. Malta is a lot closer to the equator than the Netherlands, so you need a higher sunscreen factor than you are used to.
Travel documents
Malta belongs to the Schengen countries, which means that residents of other countries that have signed this agreement are allowed to travel to Malta. However, you must be in possession of a valid ID. Children must also be in possession of their own identity card. Possession or trading of soft and hard drugs is strictly prohibited here. There are severe penalties for this.
Info table
Capital city | Valletta |
Phone (country code) | 356 |
Internetdomein | .mt |
Language(s) (official) | Maltese and English |
Language(s) (colloquial) | Maltese and English |
Religion(s) | Catholic |
Time zone(s) | UTC+1 |
Time difference summer | in Malta it is as late as in the Netherlands |
Time difference winter | in Malta it is as late as in the Netherlands |
Daylight Saving Time Control | yes, this is the same as in the Netherlands |
Currency | euro |